WALES’ bid for Heineken success has been written off already by bookmakers – despite three of our teams having favourable draws and the final being held in Cardiff.

The Ospreys were last night placed as the shortest-priced Welsh outfit at an attractive 20-1 in odds supplied by Betfred.

Phil Davies’ Scarlets are at 25-1 and the Blues at 66-1, with Paul Turner’s Dragons complete outsiders at 150-1.

The Welsh regions trail well behind the best of France, England and Ireland, in the eyes of the bookies.

And the worrying thing is that the bookmakers are said to be the people who know things best!

The odds given to the Ospreys could lure Welsh punters. Even though Lyn Jones possesses arguably the best squad in Europe, no fewer than seven teams are placed above them as likely Cup winners, according to the bookies.

French champions Stade Francais, whose squad is inferior to the Ospreys, are tournament favourites at 11-4 with Biarritz second favourites at 4-1, Leicester at 8-1, Perpignan 9-1, Toulouse 14-1 and holders London Wasps 16-1.

Former European title-holders Munster are bracketed with the Ospreys at 20-1.

The second Welsh team in the betting are our traditional European flag-bearers the Scarlets.

At 25-1, they are in a pool containing Wasps, Munster and dangerous French Championship runners-up Clermont Auvergne.

Nevertheless, Heineken Cup ambassador and Scarlets legend Scott Quinnel refused to dismiss his old team’s chances and he is tipping them to win through in their group.

Quinnell pointed out, “Last year we said the Scarlets were in the worst pool with Toulouse, Ulster and London Irish, but they won their six games to get out of it.

“To win three away matches and go unbeaten at the group stage was something exceptional.

“But it hasn’t got any easier for them in Europe next season. They are going to have to win away again to get through.

“Everybody knows about Wasps and Munster, who the Scarlets magnificently beat in last season’s quarter-finals at Stradey Park, and they will get a bit of inside knowledge on Clermont from Stephen Jones.”

Wales captain Jones spent two seasons with the Massif Centrale club before returning to Wales and the Scarlets last term.

The Blues, who face Stade, and English duo Bristol and Harlequins in Pool Three, are attractively priced at 66-1. Bristol and Harlequins are 100-1 shots.

Former Wales captain and British Lions No 8 powerhouse Quinnell reckons the Blues can get out of the group.

He said, “The big games for them will obviously be against Stade Francais.”

“But the Blues have got to make sure they win their home games because, maybe, that’s let them down in previous seasons in Europe.

“They are certainly capable of going to Harlequins and Bristol and performing.

“Stade away is going to be big but the Ospreys should have won in Paris last season so it is possible.”

The Dragons couldn’t have got a much better draw with Perpignan, who can blow hot and cold, London Irish and Benetton Treviso the opposition in Pool One.

And only Treviso, at 750-1, and fellow Italian outfit Viadana, rank outsiders at 2,500-1, are below the Dragons in the tournament betting.

London Irish, who were put out by the Scarlets last season, are at 80-1 while Pool One favourites Perpignan are at 9-1 to lift the showpiece Heineken Cup.

“You have to look at Perpignan, but the Dragons will be happy with their draw. I certainly wouldn’t write them off,” emphasised Quinnell. “They did remarkably well last season.”